Method for producing alumina sintered body, alumina sintered body, abrasive grains, and grindstone

ABSTRACT

Provided are a method for producing an alumina sintered compact satisfying the following (1) and (2), which comprises mixing and sintering an ilmenite powder and an alumina powder; the alumina sintered compact obtained according to the production method; and an abrasive grain and a grain stone.
         (1) The total amount of the TiO 2 -equivalent content of the titanium compound, the Fe 2 O 3 -equivalent content of the iron compound and the alumina content is at least 98% by mass;   (2) The total amount of the TiO 2 -equivalent content of the titanium compound and the Fe 2 O 3 -equivalent content of the iron compound is from 5 to 13% by mass.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/JP2011/073900 filed Oct. 18, 2011, claiming priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-245579 filed Nov. 1, 2010, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method for producing an alumina sintered compact, the alumina sintered compact obtained according to the production method, an abrasive grain using the alumina sintered compact, and a grind stone using the abrasive grain.

BACKGROUND ART

An alumina sintered compact is used in various industrial fields, making full use of the excellent characteristics thereof of high hardness, high strength, high heat resistance, high abrasion resistance, high chemical resistance, etc. In particular, it is used as a starting material (abrasive grain) of heavy grinding stones in steel industry.

Special alloys are being much used as a material for parts constituting transportation equipment centered on automobiles or industrial machinery. These special alloys are hard as compared with ordinary SUS304 and others, and heavy grinding stones heretofore unknown and having a high “grinding ratio” are desired by the market. In this, “grinding ratio” is an index of indicating the performance of grind stones and is represented by the following formula: Grinding Ratio=ground amount of work material(ground amount)/abrasion loss of grind stone

In general, it is considered that a grind stone requiring a smaller amount thereof to grind a larger amount of a work material could have better performance; however, the grinding ratio of a grind stone is influenced by the “hardness” and the “fracture toughness” of the abrasive grains used for the grind stone. It is considered that there would be the following relationships between “the grinding ratio and the hardness”, and “the grinding ratio and the fracture toughness”.

-   (1) When the hardness of an abrasive grain is high, then the ground     amount increases and therefore the grinding ratio becomes high. -   (2) When the fracture toughness is high, then the abrasion loss of     the abrasive grain reduces and therefore the grinding ratio becomes     high.

In consideration of the above (1) and (2), the numerator part in the formula of grinding ratio is influenced by the ground amount, and the denominator part is influenced by the abrasion loss. For increasing the grinding ratio of a grind stone, it is ideal that both the hardness and the fracture toughness thereof are high.

As an alumina sintered compact having high hardness and high fracture toughness and excellent in abrasion resistance, proposed is an alumina sintered compact in which a soluble metal compound of Ti, Mg, Fe or the like is added to the alumina crystal (for example, see Patent Reference 1).

CITATION LIST Patent Reference

[Patent Reference 1] JP-A 11-157962

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems that the Invention is to Solve

However, Patent Reference 1 discloses, as the alumina sintered compact therein, only a combination of Ti and Mg and a combination of Fe and Mg, but does not concretely disclose any other combination. In addition, the metal compounds used in Examples in Patent Reference 1 are metal oxides containing a single metal, such as a titanium oxide powder or an Fe₂O₃ powder. In case where these metal oxides are used, in general, they shall have high purity, and therefore the production cost may often increase to thereby decrease the producibility.

Given the situation as above, the present invention has been made and its object is to provide a production method capable of efficiently producing an alumina sintered compact that gives an abrasive grain having high hardness and excellent in fracture toughness, with reducing the production cost increases. Other objects are to provide the alumina sintered compact produced according to the production method and capable of giving an abrasive grain having high hardness and excellent in fracture toughness, and to provide an abrasive grain using the alumina sintered compact and a grind stone using the abrasive grain.

Means for Solving the Problems

The present inventors have assiduously studied for the purpose of attaining the above-mentioned objects and, as a result, have found that, when an ilmenite powder is used as a compound to be combined with alumina in producing an alumina sintered compact, then an alumina sintered compact capable of giving an abrasive grain having high hardness and excellent in fracture toughness can be efficiently produced with suppressing the production cost increases. The present invention has been completed on the basis of these findings.

Specifically, the present invention is as described below.

-   [1] A method for producing an alumina sintered compact satisfying     the following (1) and (2), which comprises mixing and sintering an     ilmenite powder and an alumina powder:

(1) The total amount of the TiO₂-equivalent content of the titanium compound, the Fe₂O₃-equivalent content of the iron compound and the alumina content is at least 98% by mass;

(2) The total amount of the TiO₂-equivalent content of the titanium compound and the Fe₂O₃-equivalent content of the iron compound is from 5 to 13% by mass.

-   [2] The method for producing an alumina sintered compact of the     above [1], wherein the mixing ratio by mass of the ilmenite powder     to the alumina powder (ilmenite powder/alumina powder) is from     0.05/0.95 to 0.16/0.84. -   [3] The method for producing an alumina sintered compact of the     above [1] or [2], wherein the cumulative mass 50% diameter (d50) of     the ilmenite powder and the alumina powder is at most 3 μm each. -   [4] The method for producing an alumina sintered compact of any of     the above [1] to [3], wherein a silicon compound power and/or a     calcium compound powder is further mixed. -   [5] The method for producing an alumina sintered compact of the     above [4], wherein the silicon compound powder is silica and the     calcium compound powder is calcium oxide or calcium carbonate. -   [6] The method for producing an alumina sintered compact of any of     the above [1] to [3], wherein a composite oxide powder in which all     or two of silica, calcium oxide and alumina form a composite oxide     is further mixed. -   [7] An alumina sintered compact obtained according to the production     method of any of [1] to [6]. -   [8] An abrasive grain comprising the alumina sintered compact of the     above [7]. -   [9] A grind stone having a layer of the abrasive grains of the above     [8] as the working face thereof.

Advantage of the Invention

According to the present invention, there is provided a production method capable of efficiently producing an alumina sintered compact that gives an abrasive grain having high hardness and excellent in fracture toughness, with suppressing the production cost increases. There are also provided the alumina sintered compact produced according to the production method and capable of giving an abrasive grain having high hardness and excellent in fracture toughness, and an abrasive grain using the alumina sintered compact and a grind stone using the abrasive grain.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 This is an action explanatory view of explaining the mode of impact propagation to the alumina sintered compact obtained according to the production method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 This shows SEM pictures of the alumina sintered compact obtained according to the production method of the present invention before and after impact test thereof; (A) shows the condition of the crystalline structure before impact test (processed by thermal etching); (B) shows the condition of crack propagation after impact test (not processed by thermal etching).

FIG. 3 This is an action explanatory view of explaining the mode of impact propagation to a sintered compact of alumina alone.

FIG. 4 This shows SEM pictures of the sintered compact of alumina alone before and after impact test thereof; (A) shows the condition of the crystalline structure before impact test (processed by thermal etching); (B) shows the condition of crack propagation after impact test (not processed by thermal etching).

FIG. 5 This is an X-ray diffraction pattern showing the result of compositional analysis (X-ray diffractiometry) of the alumina sintered compact of Example 7.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[Production Method for Alumina Sintered Compact, and Alumina Sintered Compact]

The production method for an alumina sintered compact of the present invention is a production method for an alumina sintered compact satisfying the following (1) and (2), which comprises mixing and sintering an ilmenite powder and an alumina powder:

(1) The total amount of the three ingredients of the TiO₂-equivalent content of the titanium compound (hereinafter this may be referred to as “TiO₂-equivalent content”), the Fe₂O₃-equivalent content of the iron compound (hereinafter this may be referred to as “Fe₂O₃-equivalent content”) and the alumina content is at least 98% by mass;

(2) The total amount of the two ingredients of the TiO₂-equivalent content and the Fe₂O₃-equivalent content of the iron compound is from 5 to 13% by mass.

The details of the production method for the alumina sintered compact of the present invention are described below.

(Starting Materials)

In the production method for the alumina sintered compact of the present invention an ilmenite powder and an alumina powder are used as the starting materials. If desired, a silicon compound powder and/or a calcium compound powder may be additionally used.

Regarding the form of the starting materials, there are mentioned a powder, a metal powder, a slurry, an aqueous solution, etc. In the present invention, preferably, the starting materials are in the form of powder from the viewpoint of easiness in handling them in operation. In case where powdery starting materials are used, the cumulative mass 50% diameter (d₅₀) of the alumina powder, the ilmenite powder, the silicon compound powder and the calcium compound powder is preferably at most 3 μm each, more preferably at most 1 μm for obtaining a homogenous mixed powder.

Here, the cumulative mass 50% diameter (d₅₀) of the powders can be determined according to a laser diffraction method.

The alumina powder is the starting material for forming the main crystal phase of a corundum crystal in the alumina sintered compact to be obtained, and is therefore preferably a high-purity one, and for example, preferred is use of alumina or the like formed according to a Bayer process.

Ilmenite is also called titanic iron, and a naturally-occurring iron and titanium oxide mineral, and its composition is expressed as FeTiO₃. The locality includes Australia, Norway, Russian Ural region, India, Canada, America, Malaysia, etc., and the chemical composition varies depending on the locality. There exist derivatives of FeTiO₃ in which Fe²⁺ is partly substituted with Mg²⁺.

The ilmenite powder is more inexpensive than high-purity TiO₂ powder and high-purity Fe₂O₃ powder, and therefore can reduce the production cost of abrasive grains.

The chemical composition of the alumina ingredient of the ingredients constituting ilmenite (from Queensland in Australia), and the oxide-equivalent content of iron compound, titanium compound, silicon compound and calcium compound are shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Content of Alumina and Oxide-Equivalent Ingredients in Ilmenite (% by mass) Al₂O₃ Fe₂O₃ TiO₂ SiO₂ CaO 0.43 46.93 49.10 0.35 0.02

In case where an ilmenite powder is used, the blend ratio by mass of the ilmenite powder to the alumina powder (ilmenite powder/alumina powder) is preferably from 0.05/0.95 to 0.16/0.84, more preferably from 0.08/0.92 to 0.12/0.88. When the blend ratio by mass is from 0.05/0.95 to 0.16/0.84, then the total amount of the two ingredients of the TiO₂-equivalent content and the Fe₂O₃-equivalent could be from 5 to 13% by mass.

In case where a silicon compound and a calcium compound are used, the SiO₂-equivalent content of the silicon compound and (hereinafter this may be referred to as “SiO₂-equivalent content”) the CaO-equivalent content of the calcium compound (hereinafter this may be referred to as “CaO-equivalent content”) are so controlled as to be at most 2% by mass in total, preferably from 0.5 to 2% by mass. Using them can further increase the fracture toughness value.

The silicon compound powder and the calcium compound powder may be a high-purity SiO₂ powder and a high-purity CaO powder, calcium carbonate powder or the like, respectively; or may also be in the form of a composite oxide of all or two of silica, calcium oxide and alumina. As the composite oxide, there are mentioned powders of mullite, zeolite, bentonite, gehlenite, anorthite, etc.

(Preparation of Mixture)

In the method for producing the alumina sintered compact of the present invention, the method of preparing the starting material mixture is not specifically defined. For example, the following method is preferably employed here.

First, an alumina powder prepared according to a Bayer process and an ilmenite powder each in a predetermined amount are added to an aqueous medium containing polyvinyl alcohol. Subsequently, for example, using an ultrasonic disperser, a media-assisted disperser such as a planetary ball mill, a ball mill, a sand mill or the like, or a medialess disperser such as Altimizer (trade name), Nanomizer (trade name) or the like, a homogeneous slurry is obtained. Next, the slurry is dried and then ground to prepare a mixture (powder) having a cumulative mass 50% diameter (d₅₀) of at most 3 μm, preferably at most 1 μm.

(Sintering of Mixture)

A shaped compact of the starting material mixture prepared in the manner as above is sintered to give the alumina sintered compact of the present invention having a relative density of at least 95%, preferably at least 97%. Having a relative density of at least 95%, reduction in the hardness and the fracture toughness of the sintered compact to be caused by the pores and voids in the sintered compact can be prevented. The relative density can be computed by dividing the bulk density of the sintered compact, as measured according to an Archimedian method, by the true density thereof.

In sintering, the mixture is shaped to have a desired form according to a known shaping method of, for example, mold pressing, cold isostatic pressing, cast molding, injection molding, extrusion molding or the like, and thereafter the shaped compact is sintered according to a known sintering method, for example, according to various sintering methods of a hot-pressing method, a normal pressure firing method, a vapor pressure firing method, a microwave-heating firing method or the like.

In the thus-obtained alumina sintered compact of the present invention, as described above, the total amount of the three ingredients of the TiO₂-equivalent content, the Fe₂O₃-equivalent content and the alumina content is at least 98% by mass, and the total contents of the two ingredients of the TiO₂-equivalent content and the Fe₂O₃-equivalent content is from 5 to 13% by mass, preferably from 8 to 10% by mass.

Regarding the relationship between the total amount of the two ingredients of the TiO₂-equivalent content and the Fe₂O₃-equivalent content, and the hardness, when the total amount is larger, then the hardness is lower; however, in case where the total amount of the two ingredients falls within the range defined in the present invention, then the mean Vickers hardness that is an index of hardness is, for example, at least 16 GPa, therefore indicating the presence of a practically excellent hardness.

On the other hand, the relationship between the total amount of the two ingredients and the fracture toughness is not like the relationship to the hardness as above; however, the present inventors have found that, within a specific range of the total amount of the two ingredients, the fracture toughness is extremely high. Specifically, when the total amount of the two ingredients falls within the range defined in the present invention, then the fracture toughness value may be, for example, at least 3.0 MPa·m^(1/2).

Here the mechanism that could provide the above-mentioned effect is described below.

First, in a sintered compact of alumina alone, the crack propagation runs in the direction of the arrow Y along the grain boundary of the alumina grains 12, as shown in FIG. 3. With that, depending on the impact level, a linear crack may form along the grain boundary, as shown in the SEM picture of FIG. 4(B). FIG. 4 shows SEM pictures of the sintered compact of Comparative Example 1 to be mentioned below; and FIG. 4(A) shows the condition of the crystalline structure before given impact, and FIG. 4(B) shows the condition of crack propagation after given impact.

On the other hand, incorporation of a titanium compound and an iron compound provides a crystal phase of a composite metal oxide having a high fracture toughness value (for example, FeTiAlO₅ grains 10) in the grain boundary of the alumina grains 12, as shown in FIG. 1. The FeTiAlO₅ grains 10 thus exist in the grain boundary of the alumina grains 12, and therefore, even though the crack formed by impact application grows further, the crack could be deviated so as to go by a roundabout route in the direction of the arrow X from the starting point of the grain 10, and consequently, the impact force is not in one direction but diffuses and is thereby relaxed. Accordingly, it is considered that the fracture toughness value would be high as a whole.

This is known from the SEM pictures of FIG. 2 indicating the results of impact test. Specifically, when impact is given in the condition where the FeTiAlO₅ grains exist in the grain boundary of the alumina grains, as in the SEM picture of FIG. 2(A), then the crack starting from the FeTiAlO₅ grains may go around the grains, as shown in FIG. 2(B).

FIG. 2 shows SEM pictures of the sintered compact of Example 3 to be mentioned below, in which the gray part (tinted part) positioned in the triple point existing in the grain boundary of the alumina grains corresponds to the FeTiAlO₅ grain.

In the alumina sintered compact obtained according to the production method of the present invention, a crystal phase of a composite metal oxide with Ti, Fe and Al, concretely, the FeTiAlO₅ grain exists in the grain boundary of the main crystal phase composed of a corundum crystal, as described above. The existence of the FeTiAlO₅ grains provides the alumina sintered compact that gives abrasive grains having high hardness and excellent in fracture toughness. In particular, owing to the effect of the FeTiAlO₅ grains having higher fracture toughness than a corundum phase, there can be obtained an alumina sintered compact having high hardness and excellent fracture toughness. The presence of the crystal phase comprising FeTiAlO₅ grains and the mean grain size thereof can be confirmed according to the methods described in Examples to be given below.

The mean grain size of the crystal phase of the composite metal oxide with Ti, Fe and Al (FeTiAlO₅ grains) is preferably from 3.4 to 7.0 μm, more preferably from 3.7 to 6.5 μm, from the viewpoint of increasing the fracture toughness. Falling within the range of from 3.4 to 7.0 μm, the grains could be more effective for preventing the growth of the cracks formed by fracture. This is because, when the mean grain size falls within the range, the effect of the FeTiAlO₅ grains for deviating the running route of cracks can be secured well.

Preferably, the alumina sintered compact obtained according to the production method of the present invention contains a silicon compound and/or a calcium compound that are other metal compounds than TiO₂, Fe₂O₃ and Al₂O₃, in order that the sintered compact could have higher fracture toughness.

Preferably, the total amount of the SiO₂-equivalent content of the silicon compound (hereinafter this may be referred to as “SiO₂-equivalent content”) and the CaO-equivalent content of the calcium compound (hereinafter this may be referred to as “CaO-equivalent content”) is at most 2% by mass, more preferably from 0.5 to 2% by mass.

The silicon compound and the calcium compound act as a grain growing agent, and it is considered that the presence of at most 2% by mass, as their oxides, of these compounds would unhomogenize the shape and the size of the alumina corundum grains therefore causing deviation of cracks. Specifically, it is considered that, owing to the existence of a specific amount of a titanium compound and an iron compound and a specific amount of a silicon compound and a calcium compound, the respective effects could be combined therefore efficiently providing deviation of cracks and attaining the effect of further increasing the fracture toughness.

Here the alumina content, the TiO₂-equivalent content, the Fe₂O₃-equivalent content, the SiO₂-equivalent content, the CaO-equivalent content and the metal oxide-equivalent content of other metal compounds are determined according to a fluorescent X-ray elementary analysis method. Concretely, they are determined as follows.

First, for the measurement, a standard oxide sample of which the elementary composition is known is analyzed in wet. With the thus-found, wet analysis data taken as the standard values, calibration curves necessary for measurement are formed. The quantitative analysis of the samples is carried out on the basis of the thus-formed calibration curves. As the measurement apparatus, usable is Panalytical's “PW2400 Model”. For the measurement, preferably, the condition is such that the tube is a rhodium tube is used and the characteristic X ray is a Kα ray. Preferably, in the measurement, the tube voltage and the tube current are varied for the individual elements. Examples of the conditions of the tube voltage and the tube current are shown in Table 2 below.

In this specification, the entire amount to be the denominator in determining the individual metal oxide-equivalent content is the total amount of all the metal elements, as their oxides, contained in the alumina sintered compact.

TABLE 2 Tube Voltage and Tube Current for Each Metal Oxide Element Tube Voltage [kV] Tube Current [mA] Al 24 120 Fe 60 48 Ti 40 72 Si 24 120 Ca 40 72

As described above, the alumina sintered compact obtained according to the production method of the present invention has high hardness and excellent fracture toughness, and is favorable for, for example, grinding, cutting, polishing or the like tools for grinding materials, cutting materials, polishing materials, etc., and further for abrasive grains of heavy grinding stones in steel industry.

[Abrasive Grain]

The abrasive grain of the present invention comprises the alumina sintered compact of the present invention. The alumina sintered compact of the present invention can be obtained through grinding treatment, kneading treatment, shaping treatment, drying treatment and sintering treatment to be attained sequentially.

[Grind Stone]

The grind stone of the present invention has a layer of the abrasive grains of the present invention, as the working face thereof.

As the method of fixing the abrasive grains to the working face of the grind stone of the present invention, there may be mentioned resin bonding, vitrified bonding, metal bonding, electrodeposition, etc.

As the material of the core, there may be mentioned steel, stainless alloys, aluminium alloys, etc.

Resin bonding provides sharp cutting, but is poor in durability. Vitrified bonding provides sharp cutting and is good in abrasion resistance, but gives internal stress to the abrasive grains, whereby the abrasive grains may be often broken or cracked. Electrodeposition gives broad latitude in shape and provides sharp cutting.

In view of the above, the fixation method may be selected in accordance with the use of the grind stone.

Concretely, for example, in a case of a resin-bonded grind stone, there may be employed a method comprising mixing a powder of a binder such as a phenolic resin, a polyimide resin or the like and abrasive grains, or coating abrasive grains with a binder, then filling them in a mold followed by shaping it by pressing, or a method comprising mixing a liquid binder such as an epoxy resin, an unsaturated polyester resin or the like and abrasive grains, then casting them into a mold followed by curing it, whereby there is obtained a grind stone of the present invention that has a layer of abrasive grains fixed on the working face thereof.

Not specifically defined, the shape of the grind stone of the present invention may be suitably selected from a straight type, a cup type or the like in accordance with the use of the grind stone.

EXAMPLES

Next, the present invention is described in more detail with reference to Examples; however, the present invention is not whatsoever limited by these Examples.

The properties in Examples were determined according to the methods mentioned below.

-   (1) Measurement of cumulative mass 50% diameter (d₅₀) of starting     material powder:

The cumulative mass 50% diameter (d₅₀) of the starting material powder was measured according to a laser diffraction method (with Nikkiso's Microtrack HRA).

-   (2) Measurement of mean Vickers hardness of alumina sintered     compact:

As the apparatus, used was Akashi's Model “MVK-VL, Hardness Tester”. Regarding the measurement condition, the load was 0.98 N and the indenter application time was 10 seconds. Under the condition, each sample was analyzed on 15 points, and the found data were averaged to give the mean Vickers hardness of the sample. Those having a mean Vickers hardness of at least 16 GPa are free from problem in practical use.

-   (3) Mean fracture toughness value of alumina sintered compact:

As the apparatus, used was Matsuzawa Seiki's Model “DVK-1”. Regarding the measurement condition, the maximum load was 9.81 N, the indenter application speed was 50 μm/sec, and the indenter application time was 15 seconds. Under the condition, each sample was analyzed on 15 points, and the found data were averaged to give the mean fracture toughness value of the sample. The computational formula is given below. Those having a mean fracture toughness value of at least 3.0 MPa·m^(1/2) are free from problem in practical use. K _(IC)=0.026×E ^(1/2) ×P ^(1/2) ×a/c ^(3/2)

-   K_(IC): fracture toughness value (MPa·m^(1/2)) -   E: Young's modulus (Pa) -   P: maximum load (N) -   a: indentation size (m) -   c: crack size (m)

In the present invention, the Young's modulus E is the value of alumina (3.9×10¹¹ Pa).

-   (4) Measurement of mean grain size in each crystal phase of alumina     sintered compact:

As the apparatus, used was JEOL's Model “JSM-6510V” with which SEM pictures were taken. On the SEM pictures, the mean grain size of each crystal phase was measured. The mean grain size was measured as follows: According to a diameter method, the maximum length in the same direction of each grain (50 grains) was measured, and the found data were averaged to give the mean grain size of the sample.

-   (5) Compositional analysis of metal oxide crystal phase containing     Ti, Fe and Al of alumina sintered compact:

As the apparatus, used was Panalytical's Model “X'pert PRO”. The metal oxide crystal phase was analyzed for the composition thereof under the condition that a CuKα ray was used as the characteristic X ray, the tube voltage was 40 kV and the tube current was 40 mA.

-   (6) Relative density:

The relative density was computed by dividing the bulk density of the sintered compact, as measured according to an Archimedian method, by the true density thereof.

In this, it was presumed that all the iron compound and the titanium compound added could react to give FeTiAlO₅. With that, the true density of alumina was considered as 3.98 and the true density of FeTiAlO₅ was 4.28, and based on the proportion of the formed FeTiAlO₅ and the proportion of the remaining alumina, the true density of the sample was computed.

As described above, the form of the starting materials for the sintered compact includes powder, metal power, slurry, aqueous solution, etc. In this Example, from the viewpoint of easy handlability thereof in operation, it was considered that powdery starting materials would be preferred, and therefore powdery starting materials were used. The chemical composition of the alumina power, the ilmenite powder, the silicon oxide (silica) powder and the calcium carbonate powder (as alumina content, TiO₂-equivalent content, Fe₂O₃-equivalent content, SiO₂-equivalent content, CaO-equivalent content) are shown in Tables 3 to 6 below.

TABLE 3 Chemical Composition of Alumina and Oxide-Equivalent Ingredients in Alumina Powder (% by mass) Al₂O₃ Fe₂O₃ TiO₂ SiO₂ CaO 99.36 0.02 <0.01 0.01 <0.01

The above alumina powder is Showa Denko's “AL-160SG-3” and the cumulative mass 50% diameter (d₅₀) thereof is 0.6 μm.

TABLE 4 Chemical Composition of Alumina and Oxide-Equivalent Ingredients in ilmenite (FeTiO₃) Powder (% by mass) Al₂O₃ Fe₂O₃ TiO₂ SiO₂ CaO 0.43 46.93 49.10 0.35 0.02

The above ilmenite powder was from Australia, and was a product by CRL (Consolidated Rutile Limited) in Australia. Before use herein, the powder was ground to have a cumulative mass 50% diameter (d₅₀) of 0.75 μm.

TABLE 5 Chemical Composition of Alumina and Oxide-Equivalent Ingredients in Silicon Oxide Powder (% by mass) Al₂O₃ Fe₂O₃ TiO₂ SiO₂ CaO 0 0 0 99.91 0

The above silicon oxide powder is Nippon Aerosil's AEROSIL 200, and its cumulative mass 50% diameter (d₅₀) is about 12 μm.

TABLE 6 Chemical Composition of Alumina and Oxide-Equivalent Ingredients in Calcium Carbonate Powder (% by mass) Al₂O₃ Fe₂O₃ TiO₂ SiO₂ CaO 0 0 0 0 99.5

The above calcium carbonate powder is Wako Pure Chemicals' calcium carbonate (special grade chemical), and its cumulative mass 50% diameter (d₅₀) is 2.3 μm. In incorporation, the amount to be added was converted in terms of the CaO-equivalent amount thereof.

Examples 1 to 11 and Comparative Examples 1 to 7

The above alumina powder having a cumulative mass 50% diameter (d₅₀) of 0.6 μm and the above ilmenite powder having a cumulative mass 50% diameter (d₅₀) of 0.75 μm were mixed in such a manner that the TiO₂ content and the Fe₂O₃ content in the alumina sintered compact to be formed could be as in Table 7-1 and Table 7-2, thereby preparing various mixtures.

300 g of an aqueous solution containing 5% by mass of polyvinyl alcohol and 600 g of pure water were added to each mixture, ground and mixed in a ball mill (for 4 hours in Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6, but for 8 hours in the others), thereby preparing various types of homogeneous slurries each having a mixture concentration of about 25% by mass.

Next, each slurry was dried at 120° C. for 24 hours, and then ground in a mortar to give a ground powder having a cumulative mass 50% diameter (d₅₀) of at most 300 μm. Each ground powder was molded in a mold under a pressure of 100 MPa, and then further processed for hydrostatic pressurization under a pressure of 150 MPa to give various types of molded compacts.

Subsequently, each molded compact was fired in an electric furnace (air atmosphere) for 4 hours so as to have a relative density of at least 95%, thereby giving various alumina sintered compacts. These were tested (evaluated) as above. The results are shown in Table 7-1 and Table 7-2 below.

FIG. 2 shows SEM pictures of the alumina sintered compact of Example 3 before and after impact test; FIG. 4 shows SEM pictures of the alumina sintered compact of Comparative Example 1 before and after impact test. In these drawings, (A) shows the condition of the crystalline structure before impact test, and (B) shows the condition of crack propagation after impact test.

TABLE 7-1 Composition of Sintered Physical Properties of Sintered Compact Compact (% by mass), Relative Mean Vickers Mean Fracture FeTiAlO₅ Presence or balance Al₂O₃ Density Hardness Toughness Value mean grain Absence of Fe₂O₃ TiO₂ SiO₂ CaO (%) (GPa) (MPa · m^(1/2) ) size (μm) FeTiAlO₅ Example 1 2.45 2.56 0.02 0.00 95.8 16.7 3.0 3.4 present Example 2 3.41 3.57 0.03 0.00 96.7 16.5 3.4 3.7 present Example 3 3.89 4.07 0.03 0.00 96.7 16.4 3.9 3.9 present Example 4 4.38 4.58 0.03 0.00 96.9 16.3 3.6 4.1 present Example 5 4.87 5.09 0.04 0.00 97.3 16.1 3.4 4.2 present Example 6 2.45 2.56 0.33 0.66 95.7 16.4 3.8 4.3 present Example 7 2.45 2.56 0.66 1.32 95.9 16.3 3.7 4.5 present Example 8 3.89 4.07 0.33 0.66 95.5 16.1 4.0 5.6 present Example 9 3.89 4.07 0.66 1.32 96.6 16.0 3.8 5.7 present Example 10 4.87 5.09 0.33 0.66 97.0 16.0 3.8 5.8 present Example 11 4.87 5.09 0.66 1.32 96.8 16.0 3.6 6.2 present

TABLE 7-2 Composition of Sintered Physical Properties of Sintered Compact Compact (% by mass), Relative Mean Vickers Mean Fracture FeTiAlO₅ Presence or balance Al₂O₃ Density Hardness Toughness Value mean grain Absence of Fe₂O₃ TiO₂ SiO₂ CaO (%) (GPa) (MPa · m^(1/2)) size (μm) FeTiAlO₅ Comparative 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.00 96.6 17.4 2.4 — absent Example 1 Comparative 0.05 0.05 0.01 0.00 96.6 17.3 2.4 — absent Example 2 Comparative 0.49 0.51 0.01 0.00 96.3 17.1 2.5 3.0 present Example 3 Comparative 1.46 1.53 0.01 0.00 95.1 16.8 2.6 3.2 present Example 4 Comparative 7.30 7.64 0.05 0.00 97.5 15.6 2.8 7.2 present Example 5 Comparative 9.74 10.2 0.07 0.00 97.0 13.8 2.7 8.3 present Example 6 Comparative 7.30 7.64 0.33 0.66 95.9 15.0 3.0 7.5 present Example 7

It has been confirmed through X-ray diffractiometry that, in the alumina sintered compacts of Examples 1 to 11 and Comparative Examples 3 to 7, the metal oxide crystal phase containing Ti, Fe and Al and existing in the grain boundary of the main crystal phase composed of a corundum crystal is a crystal phase comprising FeTiAlO₅.

FIG. 5 shows the results of X-ray diffractiometry of the alumina sintered compact of Example 7.

For the data analysis in X-ray diffractiometry, used was PANalytical's analysis software, “X'Pert High Score Plus”.

Using the analysis software, the crystal structure of FeTiAlO₅ was confirmed on the basis of the literature announced by Tiedemann et al. in 1982.

The pattern obtained through the analysis was compared with the result of the experimental sample, and the peak was determined to be caused by FeTiAlO₅.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SIGNS

-   10: FeTiAlO₅ Grains -   12: Alumina Grains -   X: Arrow Indicating the Crack Running Direction -   Y: Arrow Indicating the Crack Running Direction 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for producing an alumina sintered compact satisfying the following (1) and (2), which comprises mixing and sintering an ilmenite powder and an alumina powder: (1) a total amount of a TiO₂-equivalent content of the ilmenite powder, a Fe₂O₃-equivalent content of the ilmenite powder and an alumina content is at least 98% by mass based on the total mass of the alumina sintered compact; (2) a total amount of the TiO₂-equivalent content of the ilmenite powder and the Fe₂O₃-equivalent content of the ilmenite powder is from 5 to 13% by mass based on the total mass of the alumina sintered compact.
 2. The method for producing an alumina sintered compact according to claim 1, wherein the mixing ratio by mass of the ilmenite powder to the alumina powder (ilmenite powder/alumina powder) is from 0.05/0.95 to 0.16/0.84.
 3. The method for producing an alumina sintered compact according to claim 1, wherein the cumulative mass 50% diameter (d50) of the ilmenite powder and the alumina powder is at most 3 μm each.
 4. The method for producing an alumina sintered compact according to claim 1, wherein at least a silicon compound power or a calcium compound powder is further mixed.
 5. The method for producing an alumina sintered compact according to claim 4, wherein the silicon compound powder is silica and the calcium compound powder is at least one selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide and calcium carbonate.
 6. The method for producing an alumina sintered compact according to claim 1, wherein a composite oxide powder is further mixed, wherein the composite oxide is formed by at least two components selected from the group consisting of silica, calcium oxide and alumina.
 7. An alumina sintered compact obtained by the production method of claim
 1. 8. An abrasive grain comprising the alumina sintered compact of claim
 7. 9. A grind stone having a layer of the abrasive grains of claim 8 as the working face thereof. 